*—contracts are unguaranteed, and can be bought out for smaller amount
Salary data from ShamSports.com

Eric Koreen, National Post

TORONTO — The question was brief and to the point; the answer, briefer still.

In the wake of his team’s devastating Game 7 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, is Toronto Raptors all-star DeMar DeRozan concerned about point guard Kyle Lowry hitting free agency in July?

“No. No. No.”

Why not? Lowry, who will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1, has not offered any public commitments about staying in Toronto.

“Because.”

Well, that should settle it. Following their improbable success this year, in which questions about tanking gave way to playoff aspirations, which gave way to a division title, which nearly gave way to a second-round matchup against the Miami Heat, Lowry is the team’s biggest question mark. Anybody who paid attention to the team knows Lowry gave the Raptors the guts to punch with more experienced and expensive teams. If he decides to leave, a step back feels inevitable.

That will be the central consideration general manager Masai Ujiri has to make, though: Is this team one to push forward with, and trim around the edges? Or is it necessary to be firm about the commitments made to the team’s three free agents: Lowry, Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez, the latter two of whom will be restricted free agents assuming the Raptors offer them one-year qualifying offers. That means the Raptors could match any offer another team gives to them.

That is not the case for Lowry. The only advantage the Raptors will have in retaining Lowry is the amount of money and the length of contract they can offer him, as well as the ability to go over the salary cap. However, since Lowry is not likely to fetch a maximum-value deal — although Grantland’s Zach Lowe reported Lowry’s representatives would start negotiations with the Raptors near that threshold — only the final of those factors is likely to come into play.

“I want to be happy, I want to win,” Lowry said. “But it’s something that me and my agent, we have yet to talk about. But I know I want to win, and that’s important to me.

“The way the culture is around the team [is also important]. This culture around here is unbelievable, from top to bottom. My job is not to build a team. My job is to play. Masai will do a great job, I’m sure of it, and he’ll do the things it needs to take to get the team to the next level.”

Best coaches, teammates, [executives]. It’s been great. I am happy. Without a doubt, I can say I’m happy

On purpose, Lowry was vague. Free agency is about leverage, and he does not necessarily have much to work with. There are not a lot of teams with room under the salary cap this summer and a need at point guard. Logically, there is not a huge market for Lowry, although the Lakers could change that if they decide to pursue him. All it takes is one seriously interested team, and the Raptors will lose their power in negotiations.

However, it is possible Lowry will not make it overly difficult on the Raptors.

“It’s very difficult, but at the end of the day it’s still a business and you have to be a businessman for the situation that you’re in,” Lowry said. “But I am very happy. This has been one of the best seasons I’ve had through and through. Best coaches, teammates, [executives]. It’s been great. I am happy. Without a doubt, I can say I’m happy.